Papers by Alejandro Valenzuela
Tourism and Conservation-based Development in the Periphery
Even regions of the planet widely considered to be “remote” or “pristine” like Patagonia are actu... more Even regions of the planet widely considered to be “remote” or “pristine” like Patagonia are actually dynamic social-ecological systems with interrelated local-international connections of discourses, practices, and institutions. Yet, their study and management often do not consider this complexity. In Argentine Patagonia’s iconic landscapes, protected areas (PAs) represent a major human-nature relationship, and PA creation has been motivated by objectives ranging from geopolitical interests to biodiversityconservation. In this chapter, we employed the social imaginary framework to conduct an historical analysis of local, national, and international influences regarding the way nature and tourism are conceived and managed in national PAs. We evaluated the discourses (ideals, values, beliefs) and institutions (norms, rules, structures, stakeholders) involved in creating these PAs in Argentine Patagonia. The national PA system was legally formed in the 1930s, but initial efforts reach...
In the past few decades, natural scientists and natural resource managers have come to recognize ... more In the past few decades, natural scientists and natural resource managers have come to recognize that environmental problems have causes and consequences that are both ecological and social (Carpenter et al. 2009). For example, as an academic discipline, ecology increasingly acknowledges that ecosystems are not only composed of biotic and abiotic elements but also that humans form an integral part of what are ostensibly socio-ecological systems (Pickett and Ostfeld 1995; Anderson et al. 2015a). As a result, efforts are being made to expand the ways that issues, such as biological invasions, ecological restoration, or biodiversity conservation, are studied and managed to address them not only as ecological systems but also their social domain and human dimensions (Collins et al. 2011; Díaz et al. 2015; Pascual et al. 2017). Yet, significant work still remains to achieve this goal. For example, studies about invasive exotic species have a clear biological bias at the national level in Chile (Quiroz et al. 2009), at the regional scale in Patagonia (Anderson and Valenzuela 2014) and the Southern Cone (Ballari et al. 2016), across the Latin American continent (Pauchard et al. 2011) and even globally (Estévez et al. 2015; Vaz et al. 2017). Therefore, the relative dearth of interdisciplinary, applied, and social studies about biological invasions explain why they continue to increase and currently constitutes a barrier to addressing it as a socio-ecological problem.
Environmental Conservation, 2019
SummaryEnvironmental scientists and managers increasingly recognize that socio-cultural evaluatio... more SummaryEnvironmental scientists and managers increasingly recognize that socio-cultural evaluations expand the understanding of human–nature relationships. Here, user groups’ perceptions of the benefits from and threats to nature were analysed in Tierra del Fuego National Park, Argentina. We hypothesized that the different relationships of users to this place would lead to significantly different valuations among local Ushuaia residents (n = 122), Argentine nationals (n = 147) and international tourists (n = 294). All users perceived a broad spectrum of benefits. The three groups assessed intrinsic and relational values more highly than instrumental benefits, and significant differences included a higher mean valuation of benefits by Argentine visitors. Overall, threats were less perceived than benefits, and significant differences included a higher mean threat assessment by Ushuaia residents. To explain these relationships, we found that mean valuations of benefits and threats were...
Administración de Parques Nacionales (APN), 2016
Sitios históricos, con énfasis en los Cascos de las ex estancias Río Roble y El Rincón, como expo... more Sitios históricos, con énfasis en los Cascos de las ex estancias Río Roble y El Rincón, como exponentes característicos de la colonización de principios del Siglo XXV…………………………………………………………………………………… Paisaje Cultural Evolutivo Casa de Piedra ………………………………………………………………….. 3.4.1 Evaluación de la gestión…………………………………………………………………………………….. 3.4.2 Análisis de la capacidad de gestión ………………………………………………………………….. 4.1.1 Modificación de las categorías de manejo ………………………………………………………... 4. ZONIFICACIÓN 6. OBJETIVOS Y LÍNEAS ESTRATÉGICAS DEL PLAN. Anexo 2. Resumen metodológico del proceso de planificación…………………..….…..….265 3.2 Análisis de fortalezas, oportunidades y problemas …………………………………………….. 8. EVALUACIÓN Y SEGUIMIENTO. 9. BIBLIOGRAFÍA. 10. ANEXOS. 5. VISIÓN 7. MARCO PROGRAMÁTICO. 3.3 Valoración de los bienes y servicios ambientales del AP ……………………………………. 3.4 Análisis de gestión institucional…………...……………………………………………………………… 4.1 Zonificación interna del área protegida……………………………………………………………….. 4.2 Zona de amortiguamiento …………………………………………………………………………………….. Anexo 1. Disposición conjunta de conformación del Equipo Planificador e inicio del proceso de planificación del PNPFPM. ………………………………………...…….….. Anexo 9. Marco programático común de la APN………………………………………… Anexo 3. Actores identificados como relacionados con el AP y su grado de cercanía en términos de relaciones de gestión, trabajo, colaboración, etc. ………….………...….….... Anexo 4. Marco legal del PNPFPM: creación, límites, ampliación. …………………….… Anexo 5. Áreas Protegidas en la provincia de Santa Cruz. ……………………………… Anexo 6. Listados de especies del PNPFPM. …………………………………………… Anexo 7. Clases de oportunidad recreativa del PNPFPM y síntesis de indicadores considerados para cada entorno. …………………………………...……………….…… Anexo 8. Propuesta de objetivos y valores de Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural del PNPFPM. ……………………………………………………….………………….…....
Data and code associated with the paper, "Acoustic monitoring shows invasive beavers Castor ... more Data and code associated with the paper, "Acoustic monitoring shows invasive beavers Castor canadensis increase patch-level avian diversity in Tierra del Fuego" published in Journal of Applied Ecology in 2021
Since their introduction to southern Patagonia in 1946, North American beavers (Castor canadensis... more Since their introduction to southern Patagonia in 1946, North American beavers (Castor canadensis) have become a major impact to streams and forests. Scientists and managers now call for their eradication, requiring research to orient actions. John et al. (2010) showed that predicting beaver presence, which is crucial to plan eradication efforts, varies throughout colonization time (initial = unpredictable occupation of random sites; intermediate = predictable occupation of optimal sites; long-term = unpredictable occupation of sub-optimal loca- tions). Beaver presence/absence and habitat variables (geomorphology, soil, and vegetation) were measured in the field and from satellite images in sites colonized at intermediate (Brunswick Peninsula ~1994) and long-term (Navarino Island ~1960) periods to predict this species' habitat use. Habitat suitability models were constructed using generalized linear models with those variables significantly different between sites with and witho...
Vespula germanica is an invasive worldwide species that has been detected in continental Patagoni... more Vespula germanica is an invasive worldwide species that has been detected in continental Patagonia of Argentina and Chile. In this work, we extend the range of this invasive wasp in Patagonia to include the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago. We indicate the location, year and habitat of each sighting and/or collection. The expansion pattern of this species indicates that it is well established in natural and anthropogenic areas and that it has most probably depended on human transport to arrive from the continent. This short communication also provides information to take practical measures for its mitigation and control, including basic information for the citizens of the island to become aware of its presence and help it not arrive to new areas. Finally, more research is recommended for management and control of this new invasive species in Tierra del Fuego.
Introduction/Background: No research has been conducted on the relevance of intuitive eating as a... more Introduction/Background: No research has been conducted on the relevance of intuitive eating as a promising strategy for sustainable weight management among Latinas. This study translated Tylka and Kroon Van Diest's (2013) Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) into Spanish and employed an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to examine evidence of validity. Methods: We recruited Latinas from community venues in South San Diego, California to participate in this cross-sectional study. Inclusion criteria were: at least 18 years of age, monolingual Spanish or bilingual English/Spanish speaker, and self-identified Latina. In total, 150 Latinas completed a structured, face-to-face interview, which included the Spanish IES-2. Data were used in conducting an EFA. Results: Four items were removed for not loading on the initial EFA. Once items were removed, we extracted five factors with Eigenvalues greater than 1, which accounted for almost two-thirds of the variance. Of the four original IES-2 factors, two were retained identically: Reliance on Hunger and Satiety Cues (RHSC) and Body-Food Choice Congruence (B-FCC). The Eating for Physical Rather than Emotional Reasons (EPR) subscale lost one item in the initial EFA, and was not unidimensional, resulting in two separate subscales. Evidence of score reliability was marginal to strong (α = 0.63-0.87). Discussion: This study is first to provide evidence of validity and reliability for a Spanish translation of the IES-2. The results suggest that the proposed Spanish IES-2 can be used to study intuitive eating behaviors and attitudes among Latinas. However, further research with larger sample sizes and other diverse populations are suggested.
Journal of Applied Ecology, 2021
The North American beaver Castor canadensis is an invasive species in the Tierra del Fuego Archip... more The North American beaver Castor canadensis is an invasive species in the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago. Due to this biological invasion, Argentina and Chile signed an agreement to restore affected ecosystems by eradicating beavers. In southern Patagonia, the beavers’ ecological impacts are well studied, but there is a relative lack of information on how their invasion (and potential removal) could affect bird communities. In the southern portion of Tierra del Fuego's ‘big island’ (Isla Grande), we conducted passive acoustic monitoring and avian point counts in intact riparian forests, beaver ponds and beaver meadows (i.e. drained ponds) to assess spatial and seasonal differences in acoustic activity and avian abundance, species diversity and functional diversity. During spring and summer, acoustic activity was significantly higher in meadows than in forests, with ponds exhibiting intermediate values. Abundance and species diversity exhibited similar patterns, driven largely by resident passerines, while functional diversity tended to be highest in ponds, largely due to ducks and raptors. Effects were weaker in fall and winter. Acoustic metrics exhibited moderate to strong correlations with all point-count-derived metrics. Synthesis and applications. At the patch level, the avian community was more abundant and diverse in beaver-modified habitats than in intact riparian forests, though communities in modified patches may not differ substantially from those in analogous natural open and wetland habitats. Dam breaching and pond drainage did not yield a return to an intact forest bird community, indicating that active reforestation may be necessary to restore avian communities to pre-beaver conditions in the short to medium term, as sought by the binational agreement. Given the immense challenges of eradication and restoration, its social-ecological costs and benefits—including those related to avifauna—should be thoroughly considered in establishing goals or indicators of success.Fil: Francomano, Dante. Purdue University; Estados UnidosFil: Valenzuela, Alejandro Eduardo Jorge. Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego. Instituto de Ciencias Polares, Recursos Naturales y Ambiente; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gottesman, Benjamin L.. Purdue University; Estados UnidosFil: González Calderón, Alvaro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Anderson, Christopher Brian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego. Instituto de Ciencias Polares, Recursos Naturales y Ambiente; ArgentinaFil: Hardiman, Brady S.. Purdue University; Estados UnidosFil: Pijanowski, Bryan C.. Purdue University; Estados Unido
Ecology, 2020
Accepted Article This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved Biological invasion ... more Accepted Article This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a non-native habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in southeast USA) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g. Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly due to uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species C. aurita, C. flaviceps, C. geoffroyi, C. jacchus, C. kuhlii, C. penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when use the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data.
Encyclopedia of Biological Invasions, 2019
Der Kongreß zur Kultur der Sonne in der Akademie Mont Cenis in Herne ist ein Signal und zugleich ... more Der Kongreß zur Kultur der Sonne in der Akademie Mont Cenis in Herne ist ein Signal und zugleich eine zentrale Botschaft der Internationalen Bauausstellung Emscher Park (IBA '99 Finale). Diese hat 10 Jahre lang dem Strukturwandel im Ruhrgebiet mit vielen Projekten kulturelle und ökologische Impulse gegeben. Die Thematik des Kongresses-der Übergang zum Solarzeitalter und damit zu einem ökologischen Industriezeitalter-ist das Gebot des neuen Jahrhunderts. Der Kongreß wird Perspektiven eines umweltintegrierten Lebens und Wirtschaftens mit einer solaren Bau-und Industriekultur aufzeigen. Jeder Kongreßtag steht unter einem Leitthema. So werden unterschiedliche Zielgruppen angesprochen. Tägliche Exkursionen zu den Solarprojekten der Region sowie eine Info-Börse sind der anschauliche Teil des Kongresses, der für den Weg in Solarzeitalter motivieren soll. Der Kongreß findet in Zusammenarbeit mit Eurosolar e.V. statt. Kontakt EUROSOLAR e.V.
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Papers by Alejandro Valenzuela